Continuously Dispensing Wick Protecting Lighter Sleeve

ABSTRACT

The present invention is capable of continuously dispensing a wick from under a protective package by level winding a paper tube with one layer of wick then covering the wicked tube with a thin plastic layer leaving only the ends of the invention open to allow the wick to dispense continuously once any wick dispensing begins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current methods of packaging wicks, preferable beeswax hemp wicks, for sale are either in removable packaging or wound around a cardboard fold, both of which leave the wick permanently exposed once it has been used, and sometimes even before.

Alternative methods of storing wick, after it has been purchased, have been proposed which protect the wick from exposure. These alternative methods involve using either glass or wood containers to store the wick to avoid it from becoming dirty or linty. These containers have the disadvantage of being bulky and clumsy to deal with, they also require you to buy them separate from your wick and so require refill of the wick periodically. Another concern for the user of a wick is having an ignition source, primarily a common lighter, nearby in order to ignite the wick for use.

Therefore, a lighter sleeve that stores your wick in a protective package and allows for continuous dispensing of the included wick, with minimal material, and is inexpensive to manufacture and ship is in need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary use of the invention is to protect wick, preferable beeswax hemp wick, from lint and dirt while still allowing for easy use of the wick, it additionally slides onto a lighter for reliable, non-bulky transportation of the wick while maintaining it in close proximity of a common ignition source.

Briefly stated, the invention is a paper tube surrounded by one layer of wick that is level wound to allow for no overlapping with maximum storage, then further wrapped in a thin plastic layer, finally held closed by a sticker covering the scheme caused by the end of the plastic wrapping.

These and other features, advantages, and embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the different views:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention taken along B-B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention in a flattened state;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment showing the invention as a lighter sleeve;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment showing greater storage capacity using a spiral method and different materials.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, specific embodiments of using the invention. The description enables one skilled in the art to construct and use the invention, describes several embodiments, variations, and uses of the invention, including the current use of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the present invention, referred to as a continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A, that includes a paper tube 1 with a wick 2 level wound for one layer around the paper tube 1, a thin low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic packaging 3 for protecting the wick 2 from becoming dirty or linty, and a sticker 5 for sealing the plastic packaging 3 scheme 4, in order to prevent the plastic packaging 3 from unraveling. An opening 6 is between the paper tube 1 and plastic packaging 3 at both the top and bottom of the invention in order to allow the wick 2 to continuously dispense from both the top and the bottom of the invention after easily being started through either top or bottom opening 6. As wick 2 dispenses from between the paper tube 1 and plastic packaging 3, more and more of the paper tube 1 will be visible through the plastic packaging 3, to eventually leave behind only the paper tube 1 and plastic packaging 3 once the wick 2 is fully dispensed.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the present invention to better display the cylindrical shape of the paper tube 1. The bottom view of the present invention (not shown) would be identical to FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the present invention, taken along B-B in FIG. 2, allowing for better visibility of the one-layer level wind of wick 2 between the paper tube 1 and plastic packaging 3. FIG. 3 also makes more visible the opening 6 at both the top and bottom of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the present invention after being flattened for easy storage and shipment, showing that the invention is tolerant to such alterations which are beneficial to the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6. As stated about FIG. 2, the bottom view (not shown) of a flattened continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A would be identical to FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, here the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A has been slid onto a lighter C, a common BIC brand cigarette lighter. FIG. 5 displays how the paper tube 1 and its accompanying items, the wick 2 and plastic packaging 3, conform precisely to the shape of the lighter C and in no way alter the use of the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, here the invention has been modified in several ways, satisfying the need for greater storage while maintaining moderate size, and is referred to as a high capacity continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve D. In this embodiment the paper tube 1 has been scaled up to form the large paper tube E, which holds over ten times the wick 2 to be called wick F, the plastic packaging 3 has been replaced with a paper covering G to reduce the friction caused by plastic, then those are flattened, similar to FIG. 4, and spiraled up to occupy less space, and finally sealed by a paper packaging H to prevent unraveling. The opening 6 is still present at both the top and bottom of this embodiment. This top view displays the space saving spiral of the large paper tube E holding wick F encased in paper covering G, and the lighter space J where a small lighter, preferably a mini BIC, can be inserted for storage. Again as stated about previous figures, the bottom view (not shown) of the high capacity continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve D would be identical to FIG. 6.

Paper tube 1 is thick enough to hold its cylindrical shape while being level wound with wick 2 by a low rpm ac motor (not shown), but thin enough to form to and hold the shape of a lighter C. Paper tube 1 can be scaled up or down to fit more brands and styles of lighters, though multiple brands do fit the current model, and also to fit around many more benefitting devices, such as candles. Paper tube 1 can be substituted with other materials, such as a thin plastic that both holds a cylindrical shape and conforms to objects. Though paper tube 1 does hold its cylindrical shape and conform to similar sized objects, it is not necessary to have this attribute, and paper tube 1 could be in the form of any oval shape that allows for level winding during manufacture.

Opening 6 does not need to be at both the top and bottom of the invention, in fact both the top and bottom opening 6 could be covered as long as any dispensing could begin without destroying the plastic packaging 3, one can easily see the advantages and disadvantages of sealing one or both of the two openings 6. Also low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic is not necessary to be used for the plastic packaging 3, and one may see benefit of using a shrink wrap to better seal the invention from dirt and increase productivity of manufacture in some cases, here no sticker 5 would be needed as no scheme 4 would be produced. Paper may also be used instead of a plastic packaging 3, as seen in the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

The following description is the current embodiment of producing the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A, and is in no way the only form of producing a continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A. The following is believed to be the best form of producing the invention without the need of automated machinery, and can be described as being handmade. Therefore those skilled in the art can see the benefit of having an assembly line that includes multiple stages of manufacture with separate operators, to construct the current invention.

To manufacture the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A, one would first manufacture wick. Those skilled in the art are aware of multiple ways of producing wick. Briefly stated, wick production is dipping dry yarn, preferable hemp yarn, into hot liquid wax, preferable beeswax, then stripping of excess wax leaving only the minimum required quantity of wax absorbed into the yarn to allow the wick to burn.

The following description will use words similar to the words used to describe the parts of FIGS. 1-5, however they will not be accompanied with the corresponding numerals, because some parts being described hereafter are not the parts of FIGS. 1-5, but their assembly line counterpart, and not until the final stage of assembly do the parts included in FIGS. 1-5 come into being.

The assembly line process can be briefly described as, winding wick onto a spool for storage, attaching the wick from the spool onto a paper tube (six times the length of paper tube 1), spinning the paper tube as so to level wind the wick until completely and fully filling the paper tube with wick (six times the length of wick 2), cutting the wick attached to the storage spool, removing the now wicked paper tube from the level winding machine, covering the wicked paper tube in a plastic packaging (six times the length of plastic packaging 3), using six stickers 5 to seal the scheme 4 of the plastic packaging and give measurement, to finally be cut into six individual continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve's A.

The alternate embodiment, high capacity continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve D, shown in FIG. 6, is manufactured using similar techniques as stated above, and can be briefly stated as, winding wick onto a spool for storage, attaching the wick from the spool onto a large paper tube E, spinning the large paper tube E as so to level wind the wick until completely and fully filling the large paper tube E with wick F, cutting the wick attached to the storage spool, covering the large paper tube E and wick F in a paper covering G, removing the large paper tube E with wick F and paper covering G from the level winding machine, flattening the large paper tube E with wick F and paper covering G, to then spiral it on itself leaving enough room for lighter space J, finally sealing the spiral from unraveling with paper packaging H.

When spiraling flattened paper tube E with wick F and paper covering G, it is not necessary to leave lighter space J, though preferred, it is also possible to easily change the size of lighter space J to better fit other beneficial devices.

The large paper tube E, paper covering G and paper packaging H can be scaled to meet many size standards, and can all be made from pre-manufactured paper tubes or sheeted paper, held together by glue, wax or tape. They can also be made of a thin plastic or rubber material, though not preferred. Paper packaging H can also be a sticker or rubber band, as it only holds the spiral from unraveling.

The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A, and its included embodiments, can be used in a multitude of ways, including but not limited to, lighting a smokable, candle, grill, or fire. Wick has the advantage of length making the current invention helpful to get a flame too hard to reach places such as a deep candle, grill, or fire. Being the wick is made from organic materials, preferable beeswax and hemp; it is very desirable to use for smoking, minimizing the taste alteration of your smoke, and to smolder as incense.

In operation one would pull any desired length of wick 2 out of the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A, ignite with a flame or other ignition source, lighter C, and begin use of a steady burning flame. If the exposed wick 2 becomes too small, one can simply and easily pull more wick 2 out of the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A without extinguishing the flame. Once operation is over and the flame is extinguished, by the user, the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A can now be placed in a pocket knowing that the wick 2 will not become dirty, linty or messy while in its packaging. The current invention has also the advantage of creating storage space for excess dispensed wick 2 when not in use as a lighter sleeve.

In the above operational description, the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A was specified for example purposes only and the mentioned operation is not limited to that embodiment of the invention.

In addition, beeswax hemp wick has the advantage of ignition and steady burning after becoming wet, and one skilled in the art can now see the abundance of advantages that the present invention has by storing beeswax hemp wick so efficiently. One such example is being used as a fire starter, using the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, one can ignite the entire high capacity continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve D after being placed under material to be burned, the high capacity continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve D will burn for an adequate time to ignite the kindling of most fires, and on its own can be a small controlled fire.

The list of advantages of having a beeswax hemp wick on hand are tremendous and include, using a flame, igniting a candle, grill, or fire, smoking, repairing candles with destroyed wicks, light, fuel for a fire, incense, and so on. Having beeswax hemp wick on hand is made possible and convenient by this invention, and only the continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve A along with its embodiments offer such a way to store and use beeswax hemp wick regularly, easily, cleanly, and abundantly.

Without departing from the scope of the invention further embodiments can be constructed, it is intended that the above descriptions and accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve comprising: one layer of cylindrical material covered by one layer of level wound wick then covered by a second layer of material.
 2. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein only the ends are open to allow continuous dispensing of the wick without the removal of either material layer, thereby allowing the wick to stay protected by the two material layers.
 3. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein the first layer of material is a paper tube to allow it to flatten and form around various shapes such as that of a lighter.
 4. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein the first layer of material is any flexible material to allow it to flatten and form around various shapes such as that of a lighter.
 5. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein the second layer of material is a thin low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic so to form securely against the wick maximizing the protective nature of the invention.
 6. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 5 including a stabilizing material such as glue, a sticker or tape to keep the plastic from opening.
 7. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein the second layer of material is that of a heat sealing nature such as shrink wrap or cellophane.
 8. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein only one end of the invention is open for wick dispensing.
 9. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein both ends are covered by having either material layer be oversized, fully covering and protecting the wick while still allowing the user to pull the wick from between the two layers of material.
 10. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 8 wherein the one open end is covered by having either material layer be oversized.
 11. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 1 wherein the second layer of material is paper to allow the wick to more easily dispense while the invention is under compression.
 12. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 11 wherein the invention is larger and folded on itself to take up less space.
 13. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 12 wherein the invention is curved into a loose spiral leaving open its center for the space of a object such as a lighter.
 14. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 12 including a stabilizing material such as paper, glue, plastic, tape or a sticker which holds the folds of claim 12 from opening.
 15. The continuously dispensing wick protecting lighter sleeve of claim 13 including a stabilizing material such as paper, glue, plastic, tape or a sticker which holds the spiral of claim 13 from opening. 